Value of 73's and 92's?

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Thu May 08, 2008 9:11 pm

I heard a gun store had a couple 73's and they were going to be priced at $500-$600. I happened to be near the store and stopped in. They have a 44 rifle mfg. in 1916 with octagon barrel. The rifling is all there but it has the typical fine pitting. The metal is in good shape but the finish has gone brown. Wood is solid. Price is $899.

They also had a 38 caliber rifle with octagon barrel made in 1900. The rifling is a little rougher than the 44 but is still strong. Metal is also brown and the wood is worse with a chip beside the tang and a plate inlet into the right side of the butt. Price is $899.

There is also a 92 rifle with octagon barrel made in 1912. It is a 25-20 and the bore is deeply pitted the entire length. The metal is good but it is also deeply engraved on the receiver and barrel with winding tendrils and unfolding leaves. The engraving is well done but it doesn't look like a Winchester pattern although I could be wrong about that. It is blue but the blue is dull looking. Price on this one is $699. The engraving didn't do anything for me and I wonder if engraving that wasn't done at the factory reduces the value of a rifle?

I looked at Gunbroker and the prices on these don't seem out of line but they are more than I would pay. What say you?

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Thu May 08, 2008 9:45 pm

They actually sound pretty much on par...maybe 10% high, but close.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:13 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote:They actually sound pretty much on par...maybe 10% high, but close.

I guess it depends on where you live. I would say they are about 10 to 15% low.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:00 am

I think you may be passing up a couple of bargains! The days of buying a nice 73 for $500 bucks are looonnnng gone, Amigo. Same for the 92.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Fri May 09, 2008 6:50 am

Grizzly Adams wrote:I think you may be passing up a couple of bargains! The days of buying a nice 73 for $500 bucks are looonnnng gone, Amigo. Same for the 92.

+1 - I'd pick up the 73's if given the chance....

Leverdude · Post by **Leverdude** » Fri May 09, 2008 7:07 am

Guys,
The guns are $900 & $700 respectively.

If I was in the right mood I might buy the 44 cal 73 judging by your description. But in my experience the gun would be priced over $1000 here & not go much less, likely more.

If the 92 was in good shape I'd be interested but not as you describe it.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:30 am

That '73 in 44 WCF is underpriced for the condition you describe. It is hard to find one in good working order, all original with a decent bore like you describe for under $1,000.

In my mind the '92 is overpriced. The '73 in 38 WCF is probably underpriced by about 10% or a bit more.

runfiverun · Post by **runfiverun** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:04 am

in this area at them prices i wouldn't have even been able to look at them
they would have been goone......long gone..

Marc · Post by **Marc** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:01 am

For $600 I would have been digging in my pocket! The 44 is the best of the bunch and the one that appeals to me the most. All three seemed to be solid mechanically except the dust covers are loose on both 73's and the lifter is a little sloppy in its bore on the 38. The barrels had a lot of dings and dents but the receivers were in good shape.

I suspect the prices are on the low side for this area based on what I have seen at the gun shows. Gun show prices tend to run high though. Maybe I will go look at the 44 again. The engraving and the cratered bore ruin the 92 for me. I would have to do a sales job on the wife to buy one.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:23 pm

Marc wrote:For $600 I would have been digging in my pocket! The 44 is the best of the bunch and the one that appeals to me the most. All three seemed to be solid mechanically except the dust covers are loose on both 73's and the lifter is a little sloppy in its bore on the 38. The barrels had a lot of dings and dents but the receivers were in good shape.

I suspect the prices are on the low side for this area based on what I have seen at the gun shows. Gun show prices tend to run high though. Maybe I will go look at the 44 again. The engraving and the cratered bore ruin the 92 for me. I would have to do a sales job on the wife to buy one.

Good luck!.................with the wife, I mean!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Fri May 09, 2008 8:35 pm

It pays to know your Winchesters. Could be junk with aftermarket d&t that you may not know about. Its darn near impossible pricing a Winchester without having it in your hand. Those 73's could be first models worth 3K, even though they look worn out. If you run into these guns a lot and there's not a whole lot of money in the area, buy a Madis book and read, read, read.-------------Sixgun

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri May 09, 2008 9:06 pm

Sixgun wrote:It pays to know your Winchesters. Could be junk with aftermarket d&t that you may not know about. Its darn near impossible pricing a Winchester without having it in your hand. Those 73's could be first models worth 3K, even though they look worn out. If you run into these guns a lot and there's not a whole lot of money in the area, buy a Madis book and read, read, read.-------------Sixgun

Good advice.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:41 pm

Sixgun wrote:It pays to know your Winchesters. Could be junk with aftermarket d&t that you may not know about. Its darn near impossible pricing a Winchester without having it in your hand. Those 73's could be first models worth 3K, even though they look worn out. If you run into these guns a lot and there's not a whole lot of money in the area, buy a Madis book and read, read, read.-------------Sixgun

True. "All education costs something."

Gets really expensive when you don't know what your buying.

In your original post you indicated the 44 WCF was made in 1916, so that's a third model. But I suspect you may already know that!